Hill, a 21-year-old out of LSU, joins a backfield highlighted by speedster Giovani Bernard and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, whose role could be uncertain come Week 1. On the latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast," NFL Media's Bucky Brooks opined that Hill will end up complementing Bernard as a two-down "hammer" in a Hue Jackson-coordinated offense that places a premium on being able to run between the tackles.

"Part of the reason they drafted Jeremy Hill over Carlos Hyde is because they like the way he ran at LSU against eight- and nine-man boxes," Brooks said. "He'll see some of those looks in the AFC North, but he'll thrive in that."

At 6-foot-1 and 233 pounds, the bruising grinder is poised to make an impact on the ground game that could open up passing lanes for the much-scrutinized Andy Dalton in 2014.